Jackson carving out role with Sound Tigers

Published 6:19 pm, Thursday, October 10, 2013

BRIDGEPORT-- The power play for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers' opening weekend was full of top prospects and young draft picks.

And right in the middle of the second unit was a defenseman on an AHL contract who split last year between the Sound Tigers and the ECHL.

Coach Scott Pellerin said Dallas Jackson, 24, may sit out at times this year considering the team's nine-deep defense corps, but Jackson filled a couple of big roles in the opening weekend.

"I thought he had a solid training camp," Pellerin said. "He can play the right side. He can play the left side. He makes smart plays, and he communicates very well on the ice, which I like. He makes smart reads, and he competes."

Jackson had a brief stint with Bridgeport in 2011-12 on a tryout. He returned at midseason last year on another tryout, earning an AHL contract and going back to the ECHL only for the playoffs.

That earned him another AHL deal for this season after an offseason back home in Alberta.

"I love it here. I love the staff," Jackson said. "There's a lot of comfort coming back here."

There's one thing different: Jackson started the year playing the right side alongside rookie Andrey Pedan. He played a few games there last year, but he said it's not something he has done often.

But Scott Mayfield is the only right-handed shot among Bridgeport's nine defensemen, so it needs at least two lefty shots on the right side. (Calvin de Haan was the other one.)

"Something I pride myself in is being versatile," Jackson said. "Some things are different, but there are some benefits, too."

An unrelated benefit was a spot on the power play to start. He set up Kirill Kabanov (since sent down to Stockton (ECHL)) for a goal on Saturday with a cross-ice pass.

"It's good to get a little power-play time," Jackson said. "You show up and try to work hard, and that's what I tried to do at Islanders camp, put yourself in a good spot to help the team, and if that's on the power play, obviously that's a huge bonus for me."

GALLANT OUT: Pellerin said left winger Brett Gallant has a lower-body injury that will be reevaluated next week. Gallant's only day on the ice with the team since last Thursday was Saturday's opening-night game.